I was speaking with a co-worker the other day who introduced me to a website which houses a large database of pdf/text files. You’ll find things like sheet music scanned into PDF format, Dilbert cartoons, instruction/product manuals, cooking recipes, etc. You name it. I think of it as YouTube for documents, rather than videos. It’s an outstanding resource and you don’t have to worry about copyright infringement. Somehow, it’s legal. Take a look for yourself:

Below is an image from Forza Motorsport 3’s photo mode. I took this while racing with two friends.

I took this image to photoshop to create a sig for a forum and came up with the following.

Let me know what you think. Note: I cut the spoiler off of the Mercedes. This will be fixed. =)

All around me, I find my influence,
Of all these things, I try to make sense,
Even in a perfect picture, of the perfect dawn,
It remains inside me, that which drives me on,
Never a complaint, nor the harshest scolding,
Could open my eyes to what my hands were holding,
And while I search for whom I want to be,
This self-realization has set me free.

NOTE:  Both Files auto play.  Stop them both, then click play on one at a time.

Keep in mind, there isn’t much talent here and even lesser structure to these audio clips.  They are entirely improvisation, hence the chaos.  My purpose is to record, listen, improve, record, listen, improve, repeat.  If in the interim I can obtain some feedback from people I know and also those I don’t, I’ve accomplished a bit more.  Thus, the reason I place a sample or two here.

Mic: Samson Q1U USB

Specs: USB interface, 16bit 48kHz sampling rate AD converter, 50Hz-18kHz response range

I placed the software on my computer (Cakewalk Music Creator LE) and wasn’t able to figure it out just yet.  It’s ironic, considering the fact that the thing is called Cakewalk.  However, I put together a recording method using Windows Movie Maker that seemed to work fairly well for now.  It’s MONO sound, so it’ll only come out of your left speaker.  I’ll improve the recording quality, etc, soon but for now, let me know what you think!

Recording 1 – Electric Using Flash

Recording 2 – Acoustic Using Flash

Hello everyone,

Join me in welcoming Dustin, who is the brother of our author ChayNichole.  Dustin, welcome to the website!  Feel free to post what/when you’d like as you’re now an Author.  If you have any questions about the site layout, navigation, posting, commenting, etc, direct your questions toward myself or “Jerod”.

To explain, Jerod is the owner of the website and server.  We are both admins.  Jerod and I have been friends since the early days of college and have run websites together for several years.  This is the latest of our creation and represents our most up-to-date blog/forum setup.  If you ever have any comments or questions, we’ll do our best to answer.  Both of us stay busy in everyday life, but check back often, as this website is a passion of ours and is monitored rather well.  Feel free to make a post at any time, just be sure to select a category on the right.  Again, any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Enjoy the site, bro!

This is a decent run I have recently made of a single lap of Nurburgring. It serves as the second full lap I’ve done of the ‘Ring since purchasing Forza 3. I’m a little rusty, so my line isn’t great, but I do acheive an 8:33.49, which is on par for this car class. Enjoy.

I’ve recently joined a Forza team by the name of Formula One Evolution (F1E) and have submitted an entry to their race livery contest. Above is an example picture of my entry. For those that follow Forza, check out the team website, Formula1Evo. For those that don’t, =P

What can I say? I love racing.

In the recent past, I’ve been involved in some conversations about largely various and vastly interesting subjects. Those included quantum physics and quantum mechanics, our known universe’s origins, fate opposing the choice of a destiny, religious views, and of course, politics. With these discussions, I’ve come to a decision I needed to make for quite some time. I believe that each and every human mind is incredibly complex. We’ve discovered patterns in certain areas of the brain observable via measuring electrical signal strength and frequency in these areas, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. I am astounded at the seemingly limitless capabilities of the human mind. My decision, although it seems rather simple in design, is as unique as each individual. I will never cease to push my mind to its absolute limits. I honestly believe that I’ll never find those limits, and that if somehow I were to do so one day, it would serve as a bit of a reward for my efforts.

I am not, however, trusting to hope with this idea. Surgically complex methods of breaking down the whole of an issue into manageable parts, analyzing them, and re-building the issue accompanied with a resolution will be utilized as a method for problem solving. This generates knowledge within the mind.

People learn from their mistakes. We also learn from our successes. The reality is, we learn from every second and every fleeting moment of our existence. I am alive, therefore I learn. I learn, therefore I grow. This brings my discussion to the point of failure, as it applies to the learning process. I have witnessed time and again the tragedy that is the person who did not stand up after getting knocked down, the one that quit just before reaching the top, the person that let go and fell because they stopped believing in themselves. Each and every time, without a single instance of deviation, success was knocking at the door, just one more step, one more reach above the head, one more mile, one more trial, another breath, another friendly and encouraging word, another try, and another chance beyond.

My decision is to get up – every single time. I know I am capable and that the sole reason for many failures in my past has been my choices. If I can see (with my mind’s eye, not the optical sensory organ alone) some of these things, I can begin to understand them. However, the leap of faith here is to make choices that I cannot necessarily see at times. This is where I have faltered in the past. This is where I will succeed in the future. We must all combat fear. My choice is to build the tools necessary to beat it at will.

“It’s time to start living the life
you’ve imagined” – Henry James

When was the last time you looked a special person in your life in the eye and knew, right then and there, that you would never forget them? True friendship is timeless. I’ve made and lost friends in this lifetime enough to know what a real friend is. You smile together, laugh together, lie together, and cry together. You fight beside them, and try beside them. You live beside them, and you’ll die beside them. There is no question when a person is found that they’ll never again be lost. Some people need a friend. Some are in a state of desperation that may only be resolved through discovery. What if you made it a point to ensure that the person you loved as a friend or life partner knew this without a shred of a doubt? I’ve seen the importance of timing first hand. I’ve seen the look in a person’s eye when life’s purpose was understood – that gleam that is unmistakeable. You can see the guardian angel’s light shine when your friend is pulled from the wreckage and the first face they see is yours. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve seen people who don’t know true friends. The restless, daunting method of staggering through life that they emplore is saddening. It isn’t necessary, either, and everyone needs someone to show them this at times. The point of this writing is to help uncover something that is already inherent in all of us. Show your friends why you call them friends as often and as thoroughly as you are able. That bond may be the most important bond you possess for the rest of your life.

I’ve come across some videos on You Tube that have done nothing short of blow me away.  These musicians are pure artists, playing guitar, piano, violin, and singing with an essence of grace and perfection that I haven’t seen anywhere else.  The studio is called Candy Rat Studios and they post under the username rpoland. I’ve not seen anything of them on TV.  I don’t believe they belong on TV.  Their music is entrancing, nearly every single one of them.  I personally recommend Andy McKee, Bob Ross, and Andrew White.  I have posted a couple of their videos here.  Follow the links on the YouTube page lists for their other songs.  Comment!

Andy McKee – For My Father

Andrew White – Wild Eagle [Widescreen]